//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Opening a new Restaurant // Story: Stopping the Future That the past Creates // by Yoshi1990 //------------------------------// Lightwing woke up early in the morning and went to Sweet Apple Acres to pay them for their help. She spent the day helping build her home but did not help paint it. She went back to Lyra and Bon Bon’s home to spend the night there. Lightwing woke up with a yawn. “I have to keep my worries under control for today. I can’t get distracted at work. I should invite Lyra and Bon Bon to my new home before the restaurant opens.” Lightwing grabbed her saddlebag and cloak before she left her room. When she was downstairs she went to the kitchen. “Hi, girls.” Lyra was too busy eating breakfast to say anything. Bon Bon waved a hoof at Lightwing. “How was your night?” “Not too great,” replied Lightwing. “I was thinking about stuff and had trouble sleeping. I’m sure you had a much better night than me.” Bon Bon gave Lightwing a hug. “Everything will be fine. Do you know who’s going to work at your restaurant?” A smile found its way onto Lightwings face. “I usually run my restaurant alone. My...my friend would come in and help me sometimes, but I usually worked alone. Now my friend runs my restaurant alone. Technically it’s her restaurant now. Just like my pet is hers now.” Bon Bons face reflected lots of confusion. “How can you run a whole restaurant by yourself? You don’t even have magic to make stuff easier. I think you need help. I’m going to work at your restaurant and-” “I want to work there too!” interrupted Lyra. Bon Bon glared at Lyra. “As I was saying before I got interrupted, I would also like to know what your pet was.” Lightwing smiled. “I have...had a snake as a pet. It’s bigger than me, but I trust it and it trusts me and my friend. I may not be able to talk to it but we can communicate. I usually feed it fresh fish. I also buy animals that have recently died for its meals. Since its a carnivore. The snake makes a great guard to stop thieves.” Lightwing let out a sigh. “You might not believe what I am about to say. Please do not tell anypony what I’m about to say. I actually can use high level unicorn magic. I have been practicing magic for almost all my life. So running a restaurant is actually easy.” Bon Bon and Lyra were speechless at that fact. Lyra broke the silence with a question. “How is that possible? I know Zecora does some strange types of magics but those are with potions. She understands a lot about unicorn magic but can't actually use it.” “I don’t know who this Zecora is, but she sounds cool,” replied Lightwing. “My magic comes from potions too. I need to drink the potion in order to be able to use magic. Thats how I traveled back in time. A whole dose of my potion gives thirty minutes of magic. If I use high level magic for more than thirty minutes straight, it gives me a headache. I always keep my potions close. Thats why I bring my saddle bag everywhere.” “What are you going to serve at your restaurant?” asked Lyra. Lightwing began listing stuff. “On the normal list I’ll have burgers, fries, pasta, fruits, vegetables, flower salads, pizza, ice cream, cake, pie, and a few high class meals. For a few extra bits you can have honey spread on your food or just have it directly. The list of drinks will be apple-juice, lemon-juice, milk, water, apple-cider, tea, and other juices from fruits or berries. On the special menu or the chaos menu, I will have hey-burgers, ice-scream, endless cake, flavor changing cup-cakes, funny-honey, fruit drinks that change the color of your mane for a limited time and voice changing muffins.” “Thats a nice list,” replied Lyra. “But what do the hey-burgers do? They sound like a normal food item and do all the special foods actually do what they sound like they should do?” “The hey-burgers talk when you eat them.” Bon Bon smiled. “And I guess the ice-scream screams as you eat it.” Lightwing nodded her head. “That seems a little...carnivorous,” replied Bon Bon. “I'm going to my new restaurant. You two better come with me if you plan to work for me. I just realised that my old system won’t work. I don’t have all the fancy magic devices from my future restaurant. You two can be waitresses. I’ll pay you a lot for being waitresses today. I expect there to be a lot of guests. I’ll have to hire more ponies to serve food.” The three ponies left the house and walked down main street. After a five minute walk they reached their destination. Bon Bon was impressed by the size of the restaurant and the size of the crowd of ponies outside. She could only see the tables and chairs outside of the restaurant. A quarter of the town could fit at the restaurant just eating outside. Lightwing smiled as she opened a door on the side. “I can see you two are impressed by just the outside. The inside is just as big, but it is divided into two separate sides. This building was not cheap.” Lyra was in awe of the ceiling. The chandeliers glowed with blue light and spread a beautiful blue aura across the white ceiling. Bon Bon was admiring the darker colored wood floor with beautiful patterns on it. Both ponies were so mesmerised by the beauty of the building that they did not notice the smell of fresh food and scented candles. Lightwing raised her voice. “Pay attention, girls! This place opens in twenty minutes. You two need to do some exploring and learn the table numbers. Make sure you wash up before you serve the food. Bon Bon, you are going to seat ponies and take orders. Lyra, you will serve the food. Do you girls understand?” Lyra and Bon Bon nodded in unison. Lyra raised a hoof. “Is there a VIP spot in this restaurant? “Yes,” replied Lightwing. “Do you see the three tables in that roped off spot to your right? Thats what your looking for. Why do you ask?” Lyra smiled. “I wanted to know if you would allow Octavia a spot at one of those tables.” “Sure. I’ll even let Vinyl sit there if she comes but there will be others there too. Princess Twilight, her friends, and Discord will be over there. I’m going outside to make sure the mayor is alright with the crowd outside.” Lightwing left the restaurant through the front doors as Bon Bon and Lyra familiarized themselves with the inside of the building. Twenty minutes later the front doors opened letting in Lightwing, Discord, Octavia, Vinyl, a changeling, Princess Twilight, and her friends. Lightwing went straight to the kitchen and began preparations for cooking. A large group of ponies began entering the restaurant. The restaurant was a busy place for the next two hours. Lightwing, Lyra, and Bon Bon worked nonstop the whole time but had some help from the Elements of Harmony when they volunteered as a food servers. The restaurant had slowed down enough for the Elements of Harmony to stop helping after the fourth hour. After the fifth hour of work there were only two unicorn stallion customers in the restaurant. One white unicorn with a light-blue mane and a blue unicorn with a yellow mane. Lightwing, Lyra and Bon Bon sat down at the table with their last guests. “Hi, Lightwing,” said the blue unicorn. Lightwing smiled at her last customer. “How do you know my name?” “Your name is in the title of the restaurant and I have met you before. Do you remember me from the Crystal Mountains?” Realization hit Lightwing like a rock. “Yes, I do remember you. Why are you here and who is this other stallion?” “He is my son. I came here to see the opening of the newest restaurant in Equestria. Sadly, we also bring bad news.” “And what is this news?” asked Lightwing. The white unicorn answered her question. “We are sorry to have to tell you this, but the dark future you have tried to stop is still coming. It will be here in one hundred years. A dragon told us to tell you this. He also said that a spell was cast over you. One that would kill you if you tried to tell any other pony about this. That means you die if your two waitresses tell anypony too.” The three mares were speechless for a moment. The blue stallion spoke up. “He also said that you will die if the spell is broken.” Lyra leaned forward. “What are your names?” The blue one smiled. “My name is Pegasus and his name is Jade.” Lyra looked confused. “So...you're a unicorn, and your parents named you...Pegasus?” “Not exactly, he replied. “I changed my name to remind me of my goal in life. I hate the pegasus species. They took my family from me.” Lightwing sighed. “Will all of you please leave my restaurant? I need time to think to myself.” The two stallions paid and left. Lightwing stood motionless as she thought about what she had just been told. Lyra walked up to Lightwing and put a hoof over her. “Are you alright?” Lightwing glared at Lyra. “Am I alright?…am I alright?!” A burst of green magic pushed Lyra backwards and over onto her back. “Why would you ask if I’m alright? I was just told that my entire life's work was all for nothing by a unicorn who hates my species.” Lyra picked herself up off the floor. “I’m sorry I asked. I was only trying to help. Do you honestly believe some random unicorn?” Lightwing let out a long sigh. “Yes, I believe him. I’m sorry. I’m just upset. I think it would be best for you and me if you left here.” Bon Bon slowly nodded. “I agree with that. It would be nice if you came by our home later to meet Octavia. She has been wanting to meet you.” The two ponies left as Lightwing went upstairs to be alone. Lightwing slammed her bedroom door closed and collapsed onto the floor in anger and sadness. What went wrong? she thought to herself. I had it all planed out. It went so good too. How could the dragon be alive? It makes no sense. I covered every loop hole I could think of. Lightwing slammed a hoof into the floor. “How could this happen!?” I need a new plan, but I don’t know where to start. How am I supposed to get Twilight to help if I can’t tell her? Lightwing pulled a small box out from under her bed. She opened it and began eating the food inside. She heard a knock on her door. “Come in,” she replied. The door opened revealing Lyra. “I know you told us to leave you alone but I could not do that to a friend. You need somepony to express your feelings too. I think I know how you feel.” Lightwing turned around and sat up on the floor. “You’re right. I need to express my feelings instead of keeping them bottled up. How did you get Bon Bon to let you come back?” A smug look came over Lyra’s face. “I told her I was going to go out and eat. So I went a different way and looped back here.” Lyra moved her head to the left to get a better look at the box behind Lightwing. “Are you eating...meat?” “Yes, I eat ham when nopony is around. I use to have a pet carnivore. So I tried some of his food.” Lightwing grabbed the box of ham and took a bite of the food. “Your plan was not too bad,” replied Lightwing. “I’m really angry and sad right now because of what those stallions told me. I have to believe them. How else could they know of the dark future? I can understand how they know of the dragon I fought but not the dark future. I don’t go around preaching that I’m saving the world.” “I don’t know either, but I do know that you have a long time to figure out a plan. One hundred years is plenty of time to fix this. I will help you for as long as I live.” Lightwing hugged Lyra tightly. “Thank you.” “Are you feeling better enough to go meet Octavia?” “Yes I am.” Lyra smiled. “First you will have to stop hugging me.” Lightwing released her grip, and the two ponies left for Lyra’s home. Lyra opened the door to her home. “We are here.” Lightwing walked over to the couch. “Where is Octavia?” A gray earth pony walked into the room from the kitchen. “I am right here.” She looked over at Lightwing. “You must be Lightwing. I have heard nice things about you.” Lightwing smiled. “Nice to meet you. I really like your mane. I think the black color fits you nicely.” “Thanks for the compliment,” replied Octavia. “So you are the newest member to this fair town. I hope you like this town. It really is a nice place to live and relax.” Lyra waved a hoof in the air. “Hey! What was it like having eight hooves? Was it cool?” “It was...awkward, strange, and interesting.” Lightwing smiled as she got up off of the couch. “It was nice to meet you, but I have to get back to my home. Please don’t be offended by my cutting this meeting short.” Octavia waved a hoof as Lightwing and Lyra walked out the door. “Lyra, why are you following me?” “So we can talk more. I’m here to help you.” “Thats nice of you. Do you really plan on helping me for as long as you live?” “Yes,” replied Lyra. Lightwing grabbed Lyra and flew them both to the restaurant. Lyra went up to the bedroom and Lightwing followed. She chose to lay in her bed. “So what do I do now that I know I have to fight the dragon again?” Lyra said nothing at first. Her thinking face made it obvious that she was not ignoring her friend. After a minute she said something. “I read a book once about an enchanted sword that had the power to seal away evil. We should have the Elements of Harmony enchant a sword for us. We don’t have to say why we want it. Just that we do.” “That is a good idea. I like it.” We will need Spike’s help too. I also read that a sword forged from a dragons breath is unbreakable by normal stuff and repels magic. It’s the same with armor. Oh, and diamonds dipped in a dragons blood repel dragon magic.” Lightwing raised an eyebrow even though Lyra could not see it. “Not to sound like a pessimist, but how do you know this stuff?” Lyra rubbed a hoof on the floor and smiled nervously. “I like to read books that tell of legends of humans. I know most ponies think humans are just an old pony tale, but there are some interesting things in those books. I have done some experiments. Stuff can be true. I know the diamond thing is true. Twilight likes a good experiment. So I made a proposal to try it. Spike wasn’t too happy about giving some blood, but it was for a good cause.” I’m also from the human world, but that’s a six pony secret. Lightwing was impressed by this. “You seem to know what you're talking about. We should try the sword and armor thing. We should come up with a different plan as well. Always have a back up plan.” “I don’t have another plan...but I’m sure we could think of one. It won’t be easy if we can’t tell any other pony. So no help from the Elements or the Princesses. That really complicates things.” Lightwing raised her head off of her pillow. “I need to tell you this. I have an anti-aging potion that I use to stay young. I was wondering if you would like to learn how to make it and drink it? You will have a type of immortality.” Lyra was in shock. Her eye twitched for a moment. “Did...did...did you just offer me immortality?” “Yes I did. You seem very content on being my friend and this is my way of repaying you. I do need a friend, since I don’t have any. This offer extends to Bon Bon too. So tell her when you get back.” “Immortality...” Lyra walked over to the side of the bed. “You're offering me immortality like it’s nothing. Are you being serious? Aren't the Elements of Harmony friends with you?” Lightwing turned her head to face Lyra. “I know it’s a big offer and seems unbelievable, but it’s real. You can stop being immortal if you choose. I’m not turning you into an alicorn. All you do is drink a potion or don't drink a potion. I only drink a potion once a year. Don’t go jumping off any cliffs or crazy stuff. You’re not death proof. I don’t see the Elements as my friends. They were just doing their job and I was there to help them. I realised that I do need somepony to be my friend in this new world. The smaller the number...the better. Six is bigger than two.“ “That’s a little harsh. I’m sure they consider you a friend. You really are serious about this. I would be glad to accept your offer. It will allow me to help you more. I know Bon Bon won’t accept your offer, but we should still ask her. She might surprise me. On a different subject, How much are you paying us and when are you going to pay us?” “I’ll pay you now if you want. Your one thousand bits will be teleported to your home.” Lyra went wide-eyed. “One thousand...what did you just say? Did I hear correctly?” Lightwing slowly nodded her head. “Is that one thousand for both of us as a total or individually? “Thats one thousand for each of you.” Lyra gasped. “Thats crazy. How can you just give that much money away so fast?” Lightwing rolled her eyes. “Did you pay no attention to the fact that I offered you immortality? Obviously I have immortality. So I have lots of bits from a long life. You should go home now. Your bits will be teleported in twenty minutes. Don’t forget to tell Bon Bon of my offer. If Bon Bon says yes, come to my restaurant tomorrow morning, but if she says no, don’t come to my restaurant tomorrow. Stay with Bon Bon on the weekdays. Don’t deprive her of a happy life. You and I can work on weekends.” Lightwing waved goodbye as Lyra left. Twenty minutes later, Bon Bon and Lyra were two thousand bits happier. Bon Bon declined the offer of immortality. They had a nice night together talking about stuff they wanted to buy.